Friday Five: 2010 So Far...and a leak

The year is barely two months old and already there is plenty of music to be excited about. With so many anticipated releases, 2010 has the potential to top 2009's stellar year. Here are some tastes of tracks that I just can't keep out of my head.

Beach House tops my list of new favourites. Victoria Legrand's voice is hauntingly seductive and her lyrics dive deep into your soul. This song is simply amazing.

Beach House - Silver Soul

Jonsi's single off the album Go is just beautiful. The arrangements are calculated, but erratic. The music has such a soothing quality and his voice is just magical.

Jonsi - Go Do

Yeasayer take autotune-influenced tracks to another level, this track has some serious production elements which make it really exciting. Their new album has such a dance-pop feel once you get a couple tracks deep.

Yeasayer - Children

I just love The Besnard Lakes and their pretentious album titles; for example, The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night.

The Besnard Lakes - Chicago Train

SUPRISE!

Broken Social Scene's first track from their upcoming album Forgiveness Rock Record is huge. I can't wait to hear what BSS has in store.

Broken Social Scene - World Sick

Enjoy!

New Chiddy Bang Video "Opposite of Adults"

I've talked about Chiddy Bang on here before, particularly this track where producer Xaphoon Jones does a great re-inventing of 'Kids' by MGMT. They have now released a very fun video to accompany the track just ahead of the UK release of their EP out February 22nd.



And if you are at all interested in how they made the video's visuals, we were just sent over a 'Making of' video for the track.

Behind the Scenes: Opposite of Adults from LOOSEWORLD on Vimeo.

Mumford and Sons cover White Lies

Mumford and Sons were on the air this morning on the 'Like a version' segment on Triple J. Oh what silly and playful banter the guys have. In the segment they play their song 'The Cave' as well as a great cover of 'Unfinished Business' by the White Lies. You can stream it below or head right here to download it in full.

Frightened Rabbit, 'Nothing Like You'

Check out the video of Frightened Rabbit's new single, 'Nothing Like You'. This track will be availabe on 7 inch and for download February 22nd. Their new album entitled The Winter of Mixed Drinks, will be hitting the streets on March 1st.


Frightened Rabbit on MUZU

Lil' Wayne, Drake, Eminem, Travis Barker kill it.

Now I really don't care about the Grammy's too much, but I had to watch it just so I could see the crazy performance of 'Drop the world' and 'Forever' by the power house of Weezy, Drake and Eminem. To top it off Travis Barker rocking the kit. I guess Kanye isn't invited to things like this anymore. He probably would've walked down and punched Taylor Swift in the mouth or something. Whoever runs the Grammy's was very uncool and took down the footage from youtube, but not even they could stop mother Russia, and this random link I found. The audio blanks out every once in a while because of all the naughty words.

* Forget the Russians, here's an uncensored video of it that I came across instead.

Okay City Feat. Shad

Vancouver hip hop group and BTA friends Okay City will be releasing their new Album Tocsin-B next week. In the meantime they have released a new Track featuring fellow Canadian rapper Shad, entitled 'Cities of the North'. The song can be listened to at their MySpace. Enjoy!

And also a reminder that the guys will be touring with Australian Hip-Hop legends Hilltop Hoods through February.

Feb. 7th Whistler BC - Garfinkel's
Feb. .10th Vancouver BC - The Venue
Feb. 12th Edmonton AB - The Pawn Shop
Feb. 13th Calgary AB - The Gateway at SAIT
Feb. 15th Banff AB - Wild Bill's

The Knife - Tomorrow, in a year

A few weeks back The Knife introduced us to their new project / full length album through the 11 minute track 'Colouring the Pigeon'. This was a collaboration between Mt. Sims and Planningtorock. This project was actually commissioned by Hotel Pro Forma to accompany an opera they had written entitled On The Origin Of The Species. The full album has been available to stream lately. It comes off in typical Knife fashion. Sometimes obscure, and always with a variety of sounds to interpret. Although familiar, it also goes in a bit of a different direction than past albums due to it being written for this opera in particular. The album will be available on digital release February 2nd.

The Knife - The Height of Summer

New (Actual) Daft Punk and Justice??

So I've just sat down to the good old computer too see that the interweb is buzzing with new tracks from both Daft Punk AND Justice. Once you've re-cooperated from your head exploding like mine did, take a listen to these tracks. The Daft Punk track 'The Crash' spans 12 minutes and definitely sounds more along the lines of backing music for TRON, and not some douche pulling a fast one. Maybe a response to that song that leaked days ago that wasn't them? The Justice track 'The Beginning of the end' sounds...well, like a Justice track. Synthed out keys and a slappy bass. Maybe they dropped it because their big brothers told them to.

*Not so awesome Update: So apparently people are now saying that the Justice track is fake, and was sent by a hacker using a fake Ed Banger e-mail account. Sorry for getting everyone all excited. I will be spending my day tracking down this guy...and killing him. Sure, between these guys and Keedz, Ed Banger might as well sign some more acts to take all the stress out of Justice actually releasing anything.

* Another Update : Both are fake. I hate the internet sometimes

Justice - Beginning of the end (FAKE)

Daft Punk - The Crash (FAKE)

Mumford and Sons, No. 1

Well if you were listening to the hottest 100 countdown on Triple J yesterday during Australia day, you heard that the land down under voted the number one song of 2009 to be 'Little Lion Man' by Mumford and Sons. Great track but somewhat of a surprise for their number one spot. Obviously this top 100 list has a bit of bias towards some of the years homegrown acts like Hilltop Hoods and Art vs Science, but it's still a nice sum up of 2009 in music. If you're interested in checking out the full list head here.

Keedz

Remember when that track came out like a year ago...and everyone thought it was new stuff from Justice? Well that was these guys Keedz, which nobody knows anything about or has heard anything from since. Their myspace isn't really helping me with this either, except it says they are from the states...but everything's in french. What?! Some people still think it is Justice just screwing with people. I've got to admit that the production of both the track and video have similarities. If anyone knows any more please feel free to chime in. Regardless, how dare they try to keep me intrigued. Whatever, I'm over it. It's still a pretty decent track, however preachy it may seem. Save me Jebus.

Keedz - Stand on the word

Grizzly Bear Covers Hot Chip

I'm a fan of Grizzly Bear. I'm also a fan of Hot Chip. So naturally I was smitten when Grizzly Bear played a set on Triple J yesterday covering...wait for it...Hot Chip. Have a listen to an acoustic version of 'While you wait for the others', as well as their rendition of the always great track 'Boy From School'. Head on over here to download the session.

Science of Cars & Trains

This new video from Portland's Cars & Trains, Intimidated by Silence, has something of a low-budget Michael Gondy charm to it. Plus my grandfather had that very same cuckoo clock above his favourite chair, so I can't help but love this.

Animation by Raquel Aparicio, whose brilliant work is certainly worth a gander.

Okay City, Hilltop Hoods. West Coast Tour

Okay City, which consists of Bill Maka and Ray Black, is the freshest thing hitting the Vancouver hip-hop scene. Quickly becoming known for their high-energy live performances and hard hitting sound. Any group that starts off with an introduction sampled from Back to the Future is just swell in my books. The guys originally started out in Ontario, connecting through the well known music industry arts program at Fanshawe College. Eventually making the move out west to broaden their horizons and touring with the likes of Sweatshop Union and opening for Swollen Members. Expect to see these guys starting a dance party on stage or spitting while walking on top of the bar. Their performance and ryhmes have already caught the attention of the crazy popular Australian hip-hop group, Hilltop Hoods, and Okay City will be accompanying them as their opening act for the majority of their west coast tour. This along with upcoming collaborations with Shad, means you will be hearing a lot more about Okay City in 2010. Check out the myspace for tour dates. Don't miss it.

The Whistler show with Hilltop Hoods is already sold out I'm pretty sure. The village being like 90% Australian and all... you may not realize how bananas this show will be. If you can find some tickets do it.

Okay City's track 'Potency', which the boys were so kind to contribute to BTA, is a laid back groove with a catchy string melody accompanied with a nice little Biggie Sample. Get it below.

Okay City - Potency

Matty B - Favorites of 2009

It only took me until New Years eve…but I managed to compile what only seems to be a mere sample of the best tracks I heard in 2009. I also recommend everyone stream Aussie radio station Triple J, on Australia Day, January 26^th, and catch the annual Hottest 100 countdown. Always full of the best tracks and you may catch a few that you missed out on this year. I didn’t bother linking my tracks seeing as a fair few of them are repeats from others at BTA. So in no particular order…

1. Little Lion Man – Mumford and Sons

2. Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys

3. Alive – Kid CuDi feat. Ratatat

4. VCR – The XX

5 .Forever – Drake feat. Lil’ Wayne, Kayne West, Eminem

6. Sky & Sand – Paul Kalkbrenner

7. La Roux – In for the Kill

8. Parade the dead – Hilltop Hoods

9. Crack a Bottle – Eminem feat. Dr. Dre and 50 Cent

10. Don’t Haunt this place – The Rural Alberta Advantage

11. Sticks and Stones – Jamie T

12. Thunder and Lightning – We were promised jetpacks

13. Idiot Heart – Sunset Rubdown

14. Help I’m Alive – Metric

15. Shooting Stars – Bag Raiders

16. Until We Bleed – Kleerup feat. Lykke Li

17. Heads will roll – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

18. 1000 Cigarettes – MSTRKRFT

19. Happy Up Here – Röyksopp

20. Sleepyhead – Passion Pit

Brad's Best of '09

Here are my fav's for 2009, or at least my top 20, there were far too many songs that could've made this list. If I had to put an album at the top spot for the year it would be between Camera Obscura, Handsome Furs, Miike Snow, Andrew Bird, and Phoenix, all exceptional sorts of pop with very, very few boring bits.

(YSI) Brad's Best Of 2009

1. The Big Pink - Dominoes
2. Handsome Furs - All We Want, Baby, Is Everything
3. Favours for Sailors - I Dreamt That I Dreamt That You Loved Me
4. The Lovely Feathers - Lowiza
5. The Cribs - We Share The Same Skies
6. Camera Obscura - Honey In The Sun
7. Andrew Bird - Take Courage
8. Phoenix - Lasso
9. Black Lips feat. GZA - The Drop I Hold
10. Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This
11. Delphic - This Momentary
12. Bag Raiders - Shooting Stars
13. Miike Snow - Burial (DJ Mehdi Remix)
14. La Roux - In For The Kill
15. Ladyhawke - Back Of The Van (Fred Falke Ultimate Beverly Remix)
16. Vega - No Reasons
17. BURNS - First Move (Fred Falke Remix)
18. Deadmau5 - Ghosts N Stuff (Sub Focus Remix)
19. Miike Snow - Animal
20. Sub Focus - Follow The Light

a.m.p.m.'s Rest of 2009

As with the aftermath of a traditional festive feast, 2009 yielded an impressive share of delicious leftovers. Here are some of the choice cuts that didn't make the main serving:

Gregory Pepper and His Problems - Drop The Plot
Maps - I Dream of Crystal
Lovvers - OCD Go Go Girls
Andrew Bird - Tenuousness
Beach House - Norway
YACHT - Psychic City (Voodoo City)
Elvis Perkins - Shampoo
Mumford & Sons - I Gave You All
Camera Obscura - French Navy
The Dutchess and the Duke - Hands
Akron/Family - Set 'em Free
Free Energy - Something in Common
Metric - Help I'm Alive
Kurt Vile - Hunchback
Vitalic - See the Sea (Red)
The Lovely Feathers - Long Walks
Dan Deacon - Paddling Ghost
Say Hi - November Was White, December Was Grey
Megafaun - The Longest Day
Baltic Fleet - 3 Dollar Dress
Arctic Monkeys - Cornerstone
Memory Tapes - Plain Material
Bill Callahan - Too Many Birds
Small Black - Despicable Dogs
Think About Life - Havin' My Baby
Lonely, Dear - Under a Silent Sea
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll

a.m.p.m.'s Best of 2009

Like Marc, my initial 'best of' playlist for 2009 was big enough for two albums (and then some). After painstakingly cutting selections to narrow it down to a sub-80 minute collection, here's what I came up with. I think it works pretty well in the order presented, but that's just personal taste. Click on the artist for the MySpace page, the track name for the mp3.

1. jj - things will never be the same again

2. Japandroids - Sovereignty

3. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Young Adult Friction

4. Wild Beasts - This Is Our Lot

5. Lightning Dust - Wondering What Everyone Knows

6. Bibio - Lovers Carvings

7. Mew - Beach

8. St. Vincent - The Strangers

9. Julian Casablancas - Glass

10. The xx - Crystalised

11. The Very Best - Kamphopo

12. Girls - Lust For Life

13. The Antlers - Sylvia

14. Mos Def - Priority

15. Animal Collective - My Girls

16. Fever Ray - Seven

17. The Cribs - Cheat On Me

18. Grizzly Bear - While You Wait for the Others

19. Phoenix - Armistice

20. Handsome Furs - Radio Kaliningrad

21. The Rural Alberta Advantage - In the Summertime

Grab the whole thing here as a zip file.

I'll post the runners-up as a separate mix shortly.

Marc.E.B.'s Healthy Serving of 2009

I've been tracking my favourite songs all year and I literally had a enough to fit two albums worth. This got me thinking that next year I may produce a multi-volume "best of". As with everything in life, music is best in moderation. So, I forced myself to ration my servings of this year's best tracks.

I agree with G.R.O. that this year left no shortage of quality tracks and I hope that you enjoy some of my faves.

Enjoy!

A Healthy Serving of 2009 (Download here)

Settler - Balmorhea
Havin' My Baby - Think About Life
You Go On Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II) - Sunset Rubdown
It's Thunder and It's Lightning - We Were Promised Jetpacks
Dust - Crystal Antlers
Swim (To Reach the End) - Surfer Blood
Pretty Girl - White Wires
Lust for Life - Girls

Your Easy Lovin' Ain't Pleasin' Nothin' - Mayer Hawthorne
Heartbreaker - MSTRKRFT
Ghosts - Silver Starling

Tender Torture - Islands
Armistice - Phoenix
Drain the Blood - The Rural Alberta Advantage
Radio Kaliningrad - Handsome Furs
Lowiza - The Lovely Feathers
Serious Bedtime - The Balconies

G.R.O.'s Best of 09

Does anyone remember the naysayers who boldly predicted that 2009 would be a thoroughly disappointing year in musical history? That theory collapsed in a heap after only a few steps into the year when "Merriweather Post Pavillon" dropped. This year it's felt like a Mensa sponsored compilation to arrive at my favourite albums and mix of songs to soundtrack the year. Here's my final entry:

Favourite Albums of 09
10. The Joy Formadible - A Balloon Called Moaning
9. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains
8. Metric - Fantasies
7. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
6. Bill Callaghan - Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
5. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains of Being Pure At Heart
4. Grizzly Bear - Vecktamist
3. Fever Ray - Fever Ray
2. The xx - The xx
1. The Antlers - Hospice

Best of 09 Mix - Download
1. Camera Obscura - French Navy
2. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Young Adult Friction
3. The Drums - Let's Go Surfing
4. The Antlers - Two
5. The Joy Formadible - Cradle
6. Jamie T - Sticks 'n' Stones
7. Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch
8. Jack Penate - Be The One
9. Django Django - Storm
10. The Molotovs - Flowers
11. Jeffrey Lewis & The Junkyard - Broken Broken Broken Heart
12. Local Natives - World News
13. Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
14. Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man
15. Wild Beasts - Hooting & Howling
16. Animal Collective - My Girls
17. Slow Club - Our Most Brilliant Friends
18. Bill Callaghan - My Friend
19. The xx - Crystalised
20. First Aid Kit - You're Not Coming Home Tonight

bn... favourites of 2009

With attention to flow rather than order of preference, my absolute favourite songs of 2009.

1. Happy Up Here - Röyksopp
2. 1901 - Phoenix
3. Osaka Loop Line - Discovery
4. Lovesick Teenagers - Bear in Heaven
5. Blood Pt 2 - Buck 65 Remix ft Sufjan Stevens & Serengeti
6. Die Slow - Health
7. Shining - Islands
8. Only If You Run - Julian Plenty
9. Slow Life - Grizzly Bear ft Victoria Legrand
10. Winter Water - Harlem Shakes
11. Shelter - The xx
12. Revenge - Sparklehorse & Danger Mouse ft Wayne Coyne
13. Repeater Beater - Mew
14. Now We Can See - The Thermals
15. Come Saturday - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
16. Longform - The Dodos
17. 333 - Malajube
18. Feel.Love.Thinking.Of. - Faunts
19. Kettering - The Antlers
20. Sleep Alone - Bat For Lashes

Special mention to Fuck Button's album Tarot Sport, which would be represented on here had most of its best songs not been over 9 minutes long...

Download here!